Electric alarm-clock.



N0. 7ll,568. Patented Oct. 2|, I902.

T. E. HEETER.

ELECTRIC ALARI CLOCK.

Application filed Sept. 11, 1901.)

(In Iodol.)

3 Sheets-Sheet i.

awe who,

'l 'homas E. Heeter No. 7II,568. Patented Oct. 2|, I902.

t T. E. HEETER.

ELECTRIC ALARI CLOCK.

(Application filed lnpt. 11, 1901.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Shoot 2.

v Thomas E. Heater f No. 7ll,568. Patented Oct. 2|, I902.

T. E. HEETER. ELECTRIC ALARICLOCK.

(Appliutiuli lbd Sept. 11, 1901.) (No Iodol.)

3 Sheets-3haot 3.

' Thomas E. Heater UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS E. HEETER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

ELECTRIC ALARM-CLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 711,568, dated October21, 1902. Application filed September 11, 1901. Serial No. 75,114. (Nomodel.)

T0 0. whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS'E. HEETER, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, haveinvented a certain new and useful Electromechanical Clock, of which thefollowing is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enableany one skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an electrically-operated alarmmechanism for clocks.

My alarm mechanism is preferably used in connection with a clock whichis electrically wound; but it may be used with any suitable clockmechanism.

My invention consists in various novel features and details ofconstruction, all of which are described in the following specificationand pointed out in the claims affixed hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one form of clock made inaccordance with my invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation, the dialbeing removed and the circuits being diagrammatically shown. Fig. 2 isan enlarged sectional view showing details of construction. Fig. 3 is anenlarged View of the release-cam. Fig. 4 is a front elevation showingthe mechanis m for actuating the contact-lever. Figs. 5 and 6 are afront view and side view, respectively, of a modified form of indicator.Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the contact-pins. Fig. 8 is anenlarged view showing a portion of the clock-dial. Fig. 9 is a Viewsimilar to Fig. 1, but showing the plates 11 and 12 and the attachedparts removed. Fig. 10 is an enlarged isometric projection showingdetails of construction, and Fig. 11 is a vertical section.

Like marks of reference refer to similar parts in the several views ofthe drawings.

10 represents the main plate of the frame of the clock. Between thisplate 10 and two plates 11 and 12 is held the usual clock-train, whichis not particularly described, as it forms no part of my invention.

Carried by the main plate 10 is an electromagnet 1 1, the armature ofwhich is rigidly attached to the shaft 66, which is also rigidlyattached to the arm 67, carrying the winding-weight 15. Carried on thearm 67 is a spring-actuated pawl 68,which engages with a ratchet-wheel69, loosely mounted on the shaft 66. The ratchet-wheel 69 is connectedwith a spur-wheel 70, which communicates the motion of the arm 67 to theclock-train. The ratchet-wheel 69 is prevented from moving backward whenthe arm 67 is raised by means of a detent 71, pivoted to the plate 10.

16 is a detent adapted to be actuated to release a contact device 17 bymeans of a pin 72, carried on an arm 73, which is rigidly attached tothe shaft 66. The contact device 17 is adapted to make contact with acontactstrip 18, carried by the insulating-block 19.

20 is a wire, which is connected at one end to the plate 10 by means ofa screw 21. In this wire 20 is situated a suitable battery 22. The wire20 is connected by means of a wire 23 with one terminal of the magnet14, and the other terminal of the magnet 14 is connected by means of awire 24 with the contact-strip 18.

All the above parts are old, and I do not claim the same except incombination with the parts hereinafter to be described.

Carried by the plate 11 is a spur-wheel 25, which is geared to theclock-train so as to make one revolution during each twenty-four hours.

26 is an indicator-dial, which is carried by the spur-wheel 25 and isadapted to rotate therewith. The indicator-dial 26 is divided intotwenty-four parts, numbered from 1 to 12, in two sets, so as to indicatethe hours of both day and night.

Mounted on the indicator-dial 26 is an illdicator-clip 27, provided withan actuatingarm 28, adapted to actuate the contact-lever 29.

Pivotally mounted on the plate 11 is a contact-lever 29. The lever 29 isprovided with a projection 30, adapted to make contact with the arm 28of the indicator-clip.

Pivotally'mounted on the lower end of the contact-lever 29 is a finger31, which is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by means of aspring 82.

Mounted on the insulating-block 19 is a metal segment 33,in which aresecured a num ber of contact-pins 34. Between each two of the pins 34 isarranged an insulating-pin 35,

passing through an opening 36 in the segment 33 and secured in theinsulating-block 19. This segment 33 is connected by means of a wire 38with one terminal 39 of an electric bell 40. The other terminal 41 ofthe electric bell is connected to one end of the wire above described.It will be evident that when the finger 31 is brought in contact withone of the pins 34, secured in the segment 33, the battery 22 will beplaced in circuit with the bell 40 and ring the same.

The shaft 45, upon which the contact-lever 29 is rigidly mounted, passesthrough the plates 10 and 11 and is provided with a rounded end 46, Fig.2. The shaft 45 is adapted to be forced forward by means of a V-shapedcam 47, which is pivoted to the plate 10 and provided with anactuating-lever 48, which projects outside of the clock-casing. Thedownward movement of the lever 48 is limited by means of a pin 50,against which the cam 47 is adapted to strike, and the upper part ofsaid cam 47 is provided with a flat surface 51, which is adapted topermanently hold the shaft 45 in its forward position when the lever 48is raised.

Surrounding the shaft 45, between the plates 10 and 11, is a coil-spring52, which is adapted to normally hold the shaft 45 in its rear positionand also to hold the contactarm 29 in the position shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings. The shaft 45 is also provided with a collar 53, which isadapted to be acted upon by the cam 54 to force the said shaft 45 intoits forward position. The cam 54 is carried on a shaft 55, passingthrough the plates 10 and 11. Mounted on the said shaft 55 in front ofthe plate 11 is a star-wheel 56, provided with seven pointscorresponding to the days of the week. This star-wheel 56 is adapted tobe actuated by the arm 28, which also aotuates the contact lever 29. Thestarwheel 56 is normally held against rotation by means of a spring 57,carried by the plate 11. The spring 57 is provided with an offset 58,which is adapted to engage the starwheel when the same is drawn forwardto move it out of the path of the actuating-arm 28. The shaft 55 isprovided in front of the clock-dial 59 with an indicator 60 and alsowith a head 61, by means of which the shaft can be drawn forward tothrow the wheel 56 out of the path of the arm 28.

In Figs. 5 and 6 is shown a modified form of the indicator-clip 27. Thismodified form of clip in place of being provided with the actuating-arm28 standing at right angles with the clip is provided with an arm 62which is parallel with theclip. I prefer to use the form of clip shownin Fig. 4 on an ordinary alarm-clock; but when the clock is intended tobe used as a program-clock I prefer to use the form shown in Figs. 5 and6, as it can be readily removed from the dial,and a number of clips canbe used on the dial at one time, if desired.

The operation of my clock is as follows:

- to its normal position.

The clip 27 is placed on the disk 26 at the point indicating the hourat, which it is desired to have the alarm ring. The dial moves in thedirection shown by arrow in Fig. 1. As soon as the actuating-arm 28strikes the projection on the contact -lever 29 the lower end of saidlever will be forced toward the right in Fig. 1 until the finger 31comes in contact with the first pin 35. The finger 3] will then be movedon its pivot until the lever has moved sufficiently to allow the fingerto pass over the first point. It will then come in contact with one ofthe points 34 which is mounted in the segment 33. This will complete thecircuit through the bell and ring the same until the finger 31 haspassed out of contact with the pin 34 and strikes another of theinsulated pins 35. This operation will be repeated during the forwardmovement of the arm, thus alternately ringing the bell and throwing itout of circuit. As soon as the arm has passed beyond the pins 34 and 35the movement of the actuating-arm 28 will take it out of contact withthe projection 30 and allow the arm 29 to return to its normal position.In case it is desired to stop the ringing of the alarm before this hastaken place the lever 48 can be pressed downwardly. This will cause theV-shaped cam 47 to force the shaft forward, and thus carry theprojection 30 out of contact with the arm 28. This releases the arm 29,so that it can return During each revolution of the indicating-dial 26the arm 28 will feed the star-wheel 56 one tooth forward. At the end ofeach seventh day this will bring the cam 54 behind the disk 53, and thusforce the shaft forwardly, so that the arm 28 will not come in contactwith the projection 30, and the alarm will remain silent on this day.The star-wheel 56 will usually be so arranged as to cause the clock toremain silent on Sunday; butifit is desired to have it silent many otherday the indicator-point can be somoved as to cause the clock to besilent on any day of the week. If it is desired to throw the alarmmechanism entirely out of operation, the lever 48 is moved upwardlyuntil the fiat portion of the cam 47 bears upon the end 46. This willcause the shaft 45 to permanently remain forward, so that the projection30 will be out of the path of the actuating-arm 28. In case it isdesired to have the clock-alarm. ring during the entire week the head 61on the shaft 55 is drawn forward until the star-wheel 56 is inengagementwith the offset 58 of the spring 57. The star-wheel will nowbe out of the path of the-actuatingarm 28, and hence the cam 54 will notbe moved to force the shaft 45 forward.

It will be noted that the lower side of the projection 30 is beveled andthat the upper side of the arm 28 is correspondingly beveled, so thatwhen the hands of the clock are turned backward to set the clock the arm28 will simply force the contact-arm 29 forward as it passes theprojection 30; otherwise the clockhands could not be turned backward, asthe arm 28 would come in contact with the pro jection 30 and lock theclock against further movement.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In an electromechanical clock, the combination with a clock-train, ofa normally stationary contact-arm, means for actuating said arm fromsaid clock-train at predetermined intervals, a plurality of contact-pinsin the path of said arm, an electric bell in circuit with said contactarm and pins, whereby an intermittent alarm is sounded at predeterminedintervals.

2. In an electromechanical clock, the combination with a clock-train, ofa normally stationary contact-arm, an indicator-dial for actuating saidcontact-arm at predetermined intervals, a plurality of contact-pins inthe path of said arm, and an electric bell in circuit with said contactarm and pins, whereby an intermittent alarm is sounded at predeterminedintervals.

3. In an electromechanical clock, the combination with a clock-train, ofan indicatordial actuated by said clock-train, an actuating devicecarried by said dial, a contact-lever operated by said actuating device,a plurality of contact-pins, and an electric bell in circuit with saidcontact lever and pins.

4. In an electromechanical clock, the combination with a clock-train, ofan indicatordial actuated by said clock-train, a contactarm actuated bysaid dial, a plurality of contact-pins, insulated pins arranged betweensaid contact-pins, and an electric bell in circuit with said contact-armand contact-pins.

5. In an electric clock,the combination with a clock-train, of anindicator-dial actuated by said clock-train, an actuating device carriedby said dial, a contact-lever operated by said actuating device, aplurality of contact-pins, insulated pins arranged between saidcontactpins, and an electric bell in circuit with said contact-lever andcontact-pins.

6. In an electromechanical clock, the combination with a clock-train, ofan indicatordial actuated by said clock-train, a contactarm actuated bysaid indicator-dial, a contact-finger pivotally mounted on saidcontact-arm, a plurality of contact-pins, insulated pins arrangedbetween said contactpins, and a bell in circuit with said contactarm andcontact-pins.

7. In an electromechanical clock, the combination with a clock-train, ofan indicatordial actuated by said clock-train, an actuating devicecarried by said dial, a contact-lever operated by said actuating device,a contact-finger pivotally mounted on said lever, a plurality ofcontactpins, insulated pins arranged between said contactpins, and anelectric bell in circuit with said contact-lever and contact-pins.

8. In an electromechanical clock, the combination with a clock-train, ofan indicatordial actuated by said train, an actuating device carried bysaid dial, an electric bell, a contact-lever operated by said actuatingdevice to close the circuit through said bell, and manually-operatedmeans for throwing said contact-lever out of the path of said actuatingdevice.

9. In an electromechanical clock, the combination with a clock-train, ofan indicatordial actuated by said clock-train, an electric bell, acontact-arm operated by said dial to close the circuit through saidbell, and means for automatically moving said arm at predeterminedintervals to prevent its being operated by said dial.

10. In an electromechanical clock, the combination with a clock-train,of an indicator dial actuated by said train, an actuating device carriedby said dial, an electric bell, a contact-lever operated by saidactuating device to close the circuit through said bell, and means forautomatically throwing said contact-lever out of the path of saidactuating device at predetermined intervals.

11. In an electromechanical clock, the combination with a clock-train,of an indicatordial actuated by. said train, an actuating device carriedby said dial, an electric bell, a contact-lever operated by saidactuating device to close the circuit through said bell,manually-operated means for throwing said lever out of the path of saidactuating device, and automatic means for throwing said lever out of thepath of said actuating device at predetermined intervals.

12. In an electromechanical clock, the combination with a clock-train,of an indicatordial actuated by said train, an actuating device carriedby said dial, an electric bell, a contact-lever operated by saidactuating device to close the circuit through said bell, a star-wheelalso operated by said actuating device, and a cam carried by saidstar-wheel for throwing said contact-lever out of the path of saidactuating device at predetermined intervals.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal inthe presence of the two subscribing witnesses.

TI'IOS. E. HEETER.

